CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – Women’s basketball coach Shauna Green emphasized how hard the team has been practicing with their focus on an NCAA tournament bid this year. Entering her third season at Illinois, Coach Green said they have been rotating in the new and transfer players during practice. “We have been giving them a chance to see how they look in live action while we get some different lineups out there. This method has been most beneficial for our freshman and transfers.”
Green was joined by players Genesis Bryant and Adalia McKenzie at the Ubben Basketball Practice Facility earlier today after workouts on the practice court.
Coach Green, McKenzie, and Bryant discussed their upcoming trip to Europe. From August 2nd-12th, the team will travel to Italy and Greece. NCAA programs are permitted to take foreign trips once every four years – this trip will mark Green’s first at Illinois. The team will play multiple exhibition games, take educational tours, and try local cuisine. Bryant says she is excited to travel. “I am very excited about this trip with my teammates and coaches. This lets us compete five-on-five and gives the new players a chance to play actual games.”
Coach Green says the European trip will help the younger player see what the playbook feels like before the official start of the season. “I am going to try to rotate the new people into the lineup and hold some of the older, more seasoned players. They won’t see 40 minutes in these games so we can give everyone a chance to play.”
Illinois has five new players on its roster for the ’24-’25 season after a WBIT championship run last year. Eight Illini players are returning this year from last year’s team.